US2019351367A1PendingUtilityA1

Active protection

44
Assignee: OSMOTEX AGPriority: Jan 5, 2017Filed: Jan 3, 2018Published: Nov 21, 2019
Est. expiryJan 5, 2037(~10.5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Trond HeldalStephanie Say-Liang-Fat
A41D 31/102B01D 63/00B01D 2313/345E04B 1/625B01D 2313/365B01D 53/228B01L 3/502738B01L 2400/0627B01D 53/323B01D 2313/60B01D 61/427B01D 2313/70B01D 2313/701B01D 2313/702B01D 2313/903
44
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Claims

Abstract

A method of operating a membrane is provided. The membrane comprises: a porous layer; a first electrically conductive layer located on a first side of the porous layer; and a second electrically conductive layer located on a second side of the porous layer. When an electric voltage is applied between the first and second electrically conductive layer across the porous layer, the membrane prevents moisture intrusion from a first surface of the membrane towards a second surface of the membrane. The method comprises applying an electric voltage between the first and second electrically conductive layer across the porous layer to prevent moisture intrusion from the first surface of the membrane towards the second surface of the membrane when it is desired to prevent moisture intrusion from the first surface towards the second surface. A membrane system for performing the method is also provided.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method of operating a membrane, the membrane comprising:
 a porous layer;   a first electrically conductive layer located on a first side of the porous layer; and   a second electrically conductive layer located on a second side of the porous layer; and   wherein, when an electric voltage is applied between the first and second electrically conductive layer across the porous layer, the membrane prevents moisture intrusion from a first surface of the membrane towards a second surface of the membrane, and   wherein the method comprises applying an electric voltage between the first and second electrically conductive layer across the porous layer to prevent moisture intrusion from the first surface of the membrane towards the second surface of the membrane when it is desired to prevent moisture intrusion from the first surface towards the second surface.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises applying an electric voltage between the first and second electrically conductive layer across the porous layer to prevent moisture intrusion from the first surface of the electroosmotic membrane towards the second surface of the electroosmotic membrane when a certain condition is sensed. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the method comprises sensing a condition. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the condition is a condition in a first environment which faces the first electrically conductive layer. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein the condition is one or more of humidity, temperature, conductivity, impedance, detection of water, moisture and/or rain, the weather, acceleration, deceleration, speed, orientation, pressure. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to any of  claims 2  to  5 , wherein the condition is sensed by a user and the electric voltage is switched on manually. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to any of  claims 2  to  6 , wherein the condition is sensed by one or more sensors. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the sensor(s) comprises one or more of a humidity sensor, temperature sensor, moisture sensor, accelerometer, magnetometer, proximity sensor, pressure sensor, chemical sensor. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7  or  8 , wherein the one or more of the sensor(s) is provided by the membrane itself. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the voltage is automatically applied in response to a signal from a sensor. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the membrane is an electroosmotic and/or electrokinetic membrane. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the membrane comprises, is part of a device that comprises, and/or is connected to a device that comprises a power source, a controller, and/or one or more sensors. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the power source, controller, and/or one or more sensors are provided by an external portable consumer device. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the mechanism for preventing water ingress is electrostatic repulsion, electroosmotic pressure with zero electroosmotic flow, and/or electroosmotic flow. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the first electrically conductive layer has a surface that is hydrophobic, and wherein the hydrophobic surface is the surface that is furthest from the porous layer. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the porous layer has pores smaller than 500 nm. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the porous layer is a polymer porous layer. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the porous layer has a negative surface charge when wetted. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the voltage is applied to prevent intrusion of rain water. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the membrane is used in clothing. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the membrane is used in a building. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the membrane is used as a valve in microfluidic system or a vent. 
     
     
         23 . A membrane system comprising:
 a membrane comprising: a porous layer; a first electrically conductive layer located on a first side of the porous layer; and a second electrically conductive layer located on a second side of the porous layer;   a circuit for applying an electric voltage between the first and second electrically conductive layer across the porous layer; and   a sensor for identifying a condition when it is desired to prevent moisture intrusion from the first surface towards the second surface;   wherein the circuit is controlled based on an output from the sensor, and   wherein when an electric voltage is applied between the first and second electrically conductive layer across the porous layer, the membrane prevents moisture intrusion from the first surface of the membrane towards the second surface of the membrane.   
     
     
         24 . A membrane system according to  claim 23 , wherein the sensor comprises one or more of a humidity sensor, temperature sensor, moisture sensor, accelerometer, magnetometer, proximity sensor, pressure sensor, chemical sensor. 
     
     
         25 . A membrane system according to  claim 23  or  24 , wherein the one or more of the sensors is provided by the membrane itself. 
     
     
         26 . A membrane system according to  claim 23 ,  24  or  25 , wherein the voltage is automatically applied in response to a signal from a sensor. 
     
     
         27 . A membrane system according to any of  claims 23  to  26 , wherein the membrane is an electroosmotic and/or electrokinetic membrane. 
     
     
         28 . A membrane system according to any of  claims 23  to  27 , wherein the membrane comprises, is part of a device that comprises, and/or is connected to a device that comprises a power source, a controller, and/or the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         29 . A membrane system according to  claim 28  wherein the power source, controller, and/or one or more sensors are provided by an external portable consumer device. 
     
     
         30 . A membrane system according to any of  claims 23  to  29 , wherein the first electrically conductive layer has a surface that is hydrophobic, and wherein the hydrophobic surface is the surface that is furthest from the porous layer. 
     
     
         31 . A membrane system according to any of  claims 23  to  30 , wherein the porous layer has pores smaller than 500 nm. 
     
     
         32 . A membrane system according to any of  claims 23  to  31 , wherein the porous layer is a polymer porous layer. 
     
     
         33 . A membrane system according to any of  claims 23  to  32 , wherein the porous layer has a negative surface charge when wetted. 
     
     
         34 . A membrane system according to any of  claims 23  to  33 , wherein the membrane is part of an item of clothing. 
     
     
         35 . A membrane system according to any of  claims 23  to  33 , wherein the membrane is provided in a building. 
     
     
         36 . A membrane system according to any of  claims 23  to  33 , wherein the membrane is a valve in microfluidic system or a vent. 
     
     
         37 . A membrane system of any of  claims 23  to  36 , wherein the membrane is operated according to the method of any of  claims 1  to  22 . 
     
     
         38 . A method according to any of  claims 1  to  22 , wherein the membrane is the membrane that is part of the membrane system of any of  claims 22  to  37 .

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